This article is from page 74 of the 2011-06-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 74 JPG
Clare 3-13 – Tipperary 1-13 at Semple Stadium, Thurles
IN THE end, it came down to character. Having led by three points at the break, Clare saw their advantage wiped away within five minutes of the restart and with the home crowd beginning to sense a sea change, the Banner were forced into introspection.
However, in midfielders Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly, the defending champions held the real aces in the pack and the experienced partnership that drove Clare to an AllIreland decider last year were not about to let their title slip without an almighty fight.
It was Galvin’s goal in the 38th minute that injected new life into the Clare cause while beside him, Ballyea’s Kelly was simply immense in a 15 minute period that saw him hoover up everything that came his way.
Of course there were several others who stood out from the pack on Friday evening. The towering Peter Duggan was Clare’s most prominent forward while the ever-reliable Jamie Sh a n a h a n – Ga l v i n – Kel l y- Ca t h a l O’Connell axis was also ably assisted by corner-backs Jack Browne and Seadna Morey and Ballyea’s Gearoid O’Connell.
Clare’s second successive victory over Tipperary was made all the sweeter by the fact that they passed a major test of character to reach another Munster decider.
Disruptions in preparation due to exams; the two month gap since their last competitive outing against Kerry and having to go to the veritable Clare graveyard of Thurles to take on a Tipperary side hell bent on revenge after last year, this was a banana skin waiting to happen. But while the home side had their moments, it was the visitors who set the pace for the majority and eventually reaped the rewards.
They blazed a trail early on, with Peter Duggan and Colm Galvin pointing while Cathal O’Connell and a superb Duggan lineball had them 0-4 to 0-2 clear by the ninth minute.
Tipperary’s chief tactic was to utilise the pace and guile of Pat Ralph in the full-forward line and by the 13th minute, the sides were level once more.
However, their reprieve didn’t last long as from the puck-out, midfielders Kelly and Galvin combined to put Aaron Cunningham through on goal only to be hauled down for a penalty. Captain Kelly took the honours only to see his shot saved by goalkeeper Shane Hassett and a rebound came off the post before Eoin Enright kicked to the net to restore Clare’s three point advantage.
That pattern was repeated once more before the break as Ralph’s pace allowed Liam McGrath to gain parity from frees but Clare did hold a 1-8 to 0-8 half-time advantage as Cathal O’Connell converted Clare’s last three scores in a six minute spell.
Again Tipperary came thundering back and through Liam McGrath (2) and Pat Ralph, the sides were level for the fourth time by the 35th minute. However, just as in the first half, their recovery lasted merely seconds as from a Tipperary attack at one end, Clare counterattacked through Jack Browne, Peter Duggan and Shane O’Donnell who laid off the perfect pass for the overlapping Colm Galvin to find the right corner of the net.
That inspirational lift was heightened further by the emergence of Tony Kelly who dominated proceedings for the next 15 minutes, scoring four points himself and setting up another for Aaron Cunningham to give Clare a 2-13 to 0-11 lead by the 53rd minute.
The defending champions were also very vigilant at the back as twice they snuffed out John McGrath who appeared to be through on goal.
A brief Tipperary fightback collapsed when a defensive error gifted Clare a third goal through substitute Alan Mulready and while a bullet free from Jason Forde ruined Clare’s clean sheet, the prize of a second successive Munster final against Waterford in Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, July 10 certainly softened the blow considerably.
Clare
Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle), Jack Browne (Ballyea), Niall O’Connor (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Jarleth Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea), ColmGalvin (Clonlara) (1-1),Tony Kelly (Ballyea) (0-4 2f), Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin) (0-3 1s/l), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara) (0-4 2f, 1’65), Eoin Enright (Kilmaley) (1-0),Aaron Cunningham(WolfeTones) (0-1), Oisin Hickey (Meelick), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
Subs
Alan Mulready (Sixmilebridge) (1-0) for Enright (48 mins), Martin Moroney (Parteen) for Kelly (58 mins, inj), Damien Moloney (Meelick) for O’Connell (60 mins)
Tipperary
Shane Hassett (Dromand Inch), James Bourke (Moycarkey Borris), John Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney), Jack Peters (Kilruan MacDonaghs), Thomas Hamill (Killea), Jason Forde (Silvermines) (1-0f), Cathal Barrett (Holycross/Ballycahill), Eoin Fennelly (Mullinahone), Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash), John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) (0-1), Liam McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) (0-9 7f), Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) (0-1), Pat Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris) (0-2), Cathal Horan (Mullinahone)
Subs
Barry Heffernan (Éire Óg Nenagh) for Horan (44 mins), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s) for Fennelly (53 mins)
Player of the Game
Tony Kelly (Clare) Referee Jer O’Connell (Cork)